It is uncommon to find blue Alaskan king crab for sale throughout the year. Red king crab makes up about 75% of the supply, so that is what sells consistently. However, if you’re lucky to find blue king, we recommend buying it up. This extremely rare crab type is delicious, and it’s relatively easy to have it shipped to your door.
In generally, suppliers pre-cook and flash freeze the crab within hours of it being out of water. They ship the crab in insulated boxes, sometimes with dry ice to ensure the product stays cold. Since the crab will be near frozen when it arrives, you should thaw the crab before preparing it. If you find blue crab online, you can expect to enjoy your meal the very next day.
Blue King Crab Legs vs. Red King Crab Legs
There are three main types of king crab sold online. The two best-known types are Alaskan red king crab and blue Alaskan king crab. There are a few differences, but in general, blue king crab legs are thinner than red king. Blue king crabs also have a large right claw used to hunt their prey. Blue king crab for sale is often sold under the name of red king crab, so it might make sense to double-check with your provider to see what you’re buying. Their tastes are comparable, though blue king is slightly sweeter.
Fresh King Crab Prices (mainly Red King)
| Company | Price/lb | Minimum Order | Shipping | Order |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Global Seafoods | $35.00 | 5 lbs | $16.20 | |
| Crab Place | $42.29 | 1 lb | $29.95 | |
| Fulton Fish Market | $51.00 | 2 lbs | Free | |
| Seabear Smokehouse | $63.60 | 2.5 lb | $19.99 | |
| Cameron’s Seafood | $65.99 | 3 lbs | $39.99 |
Blue King Crab Taste
Blue Alaskan king crab stays true to the king crab flavor profile with just an added touch of sweetness. Offering a buttery taste and a savory finish, blue king crab is a delightful catch. Prepare it as you would other king crabs to enhance the natural flavor and keep seasoning to a minimum. Clean and pure is always best.
Blue Alaskan king crab live in deeper and colder conditions than red king crabs. Fishers use traps to catch blue king crab given their depth. Blue king crab are concentrated in areas like St. Matthew and Pribilof Islands in the Bering Sea. The king crab fishing season stretches from October to January. Fishers hit the waters diligently during the active season to get the supply they need for the year.
Price and Availability
If you try searching for Alaskan blue king crab price per pound, you might not find a lot of information. As we said earlier, red king crab typically encompasses both. This makes it difficult to pin down an exact price per pound. However, historic data about blue king crab price gives us a rough idea. The market price per pound has fluctuated from as low as $3.38 to $4.98 since 2010. Any of those rates fall lower than red king crab which lingers near $7.00 per pound.
Online or in grocery stores, the price you pay as a consumer is much higher. Online prices range from $60 to $70 per pound for king crab legs. The cost is not for naught as king crab is truly king.
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